FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.What are the program dates for 2006?

2. Am I required to be on the LSU campus for the full term?

3. What hours do I work?

4. Can I live off campus?

5. Can I take other classes during summer school?

6. Can I have another job during the summer?

7.From whom should I solicit Letters of Recommendation?

8. How do I choose a mentor professor and a project?

1. What are the program dates for 2006?

Jun 5 – Aug 4, 2006

2. Am I required to be on the LSU campus for the full term?

            Yes.  Nine weeks may sound like a long time, but it is a very short period in which to do any meaningful research.  You must attend the opening meetings and participate in the poster session on the final day. You will also be required to attend weekly seminar meetings.

3. What hours do I work?

            This is perhaps the most asked question.  Since the LSU/HHMI Summer Research Program is probably an undergraduate’s first attempt at real scientific research, it is hard to explain the variability.  You will be expected to work when the work needs to be done.  Experiments don’t always run on the timescale we’d like them to.  You must be willing to work some late nights and lots of weekends.

4. Can I live off campus?

            Yes, you may live anywhere you would like.  However, our program can only pay for housing within the proscribed East Campus Apartments.  Some LSU students live at home or already have an apartment.  We cannot reimburse rents.

5. Can I take other classes during summer school?

            No. .  Nine weeks may sound like a long time, but it is a very short period in which to do any meaningful research. You must be willing to devote your entire attention to the program.

6. Can I have another job during the summer?

            No. .  Nine weeks may sound like a long time, but it is a very short period in which to do any meaningful research. You must be willing to devote your entire attention to the program.

7.  From whom should I solicit Letters of Recommendation?

            Your recommendation letters are very important.  They should all be from faculty members who know you quite well. If somebody can only say that you made an “A” in their class, you’ve wasted a letter because we can look at your transcripts and know that. Two of your letters need to be from science faculty members, and if you are an LSU student then one of these must be your proposed mentor.

8. How do I choose a mentor professor and a project?

            You are ultimately responsible for choosing your mentor and project, but the LSU/HHMI Program Coordinator, Sheri Wischusen, will help you as much as possible. You will need to contact faculty members directly to ask about working with them.

LSU students MUST have a mentor and a project outline chosen as part of the application process.

Some suggestions for the process:

1)         LSU Students:  think of a professor who has talked about his/her research during a class lecture, perhaps you’d like to work with them

2)         Everyone: visit the websites of the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, and the School of Veterinary Medicine.  All faculty members are listed, and synopses of their research interests are listed.  

            Make a list of 4 or 5 faculty members whose research sounds interesting and contact Sheri for feedback.

3)         have a good idea about what sort of research you’d like to pursue and ask Sheri for recommendations.